Skip links

New Postponement in the “Ramadan Evening Meeting Case”: The trial of Ghannouchi and Ennahda Leaders Continues Despite Lack of Legal Basis

July 4, 2025 – The Fourth Criminal Chamber of the Court of Appeal in Tunis decided today to postpone the trial of the case known in the media as the “Ramadan Evening Meeting” to a session on September 30, 2025. The case involves several Ennahda leaders:

  • Rached Ghannouchi (the movement’s who leader has been in detention for nearly two and a half years)
  • Ahmed Mechregui (his chief of staff who has been in detention for nearly two and a half years)
  • Youssef Nouri (party member, who has been in detention for nearly two and a half years)
  • Belkacem Hassan (former MP)
  • Mohamed Goumani (former MP)
  • Mohamed Cheniba (party member and student activist)
  • Mouaffak Bellah Kaabi
  • Abdallah Skhiri

Case Background:

The case relates to a Ramadan evening meeting organized in 2023 by the National Salvation Front in solidarity with political prisoners. It was moderated by Belkacem Hassan, while Mohamed Goumani delivered a political presentation.

The primary charge against Rached Ghannouchi is a statement he made during a live broadcast: “Eradication, whether directed against Islamists or leftists, is a recipe for internal strife.” This sentence constitutes the basis of the indictment, without a precise legal explanation for the inclusion of the other defendants.

It is worth noting that Ghannouchi was previously sentenced to 22 years in prison in the “Instalingo” media company case and to a year and a half in another case known in the media as the “Taghout Case,” based on the interpretation of eulogies he made at the funeral of a member of the Ennahda Movement.

Despite this, Ghannouchi has boycotted all trial sessions, considering them “judicial farces,” emphasizing his refusal to recognize the legitimacy of the “politicized” judicial proceedings.

Position of the Tunisian Freedom Observatory:

The Freedom for Tunisia Observatory believes that the targeting of Rached Ghannouchi and other political and civil leaders is part of a political purge aimed at eliminating all opponents of the July 25 regime.

The Freedom for Tunisia Observatory considers that relying on statements taken out of context to bring serious charges represents a grave violation of freedom of expression and legitimate political activity. The prosecution of political leaders for their positions expressed in public meetings is a clear violation of the constitution and ratified international conventions. The Observatory also condemns the continued detention of Rached Ghannouchi for more than two years without a valid legal basis, which it considers a form of arbitrary detention.

The Observatory demands:

  • The immediate release of Rached Ghannouchi and all those detained in connection with the “Ramadan meeting case.”
  • The dropping of politicized charges and the closing of all judicial cases based on public political positions.
  • The cessation of the political exploitation of the judiciary and the restoration of the principles of judicial independence.
  • Respect for the sanctity of political expression and the right of the opposition to criticize the executive without being subject to criminalization.

Share

More Posts

22-Year Prison Sentences for Human Rights and Political Leaders: A New Setback for Human Rights in Tunisia

On June 20, 2025, the Criminal Chamber specializing in terrorism cases at the Tunis Court of First Instance issued in absentia sentences of 22 years in prison with immediate effect against former Tunisian President Moncef Marzouki, former President of the Tunisian Bar Association Abdelrazak Kilani, former Presidential Chief of Staff and former MP Imed Daimi, and two other defendants in the same case, Abdennacer Naït Liman and Adel Mejri.

عربية
Français
Icon-x Facebook Instagram Tiktok Youtube

Call to Action

Website petition: Freedom for prisoners of conscience and activists in Tunisia!

Tunisia is no longer the Arab exception that inspired the world in 2011 with a heroic revolution that overthrew the rule of Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, who ruled for nearly 23 years after seizing power on November 7, 1987, in a coup against Habib Bourguiba.

In a similar and perhaps more dangerous move, on the night of July 25, 2021, Tunisian President Kais Saied carried out a “constitutional coup” in accordance with his personal interpretation of Article 80 of the 2014 Revolutionary Constitution, announcing that he had taken a set of exceptional measures due to the “imminent danger” that threatens Tunisia without providing any details or reasons.

In accordance with these measures, Saied dismissed the government and the prime minister Hichem Mechichi who was present at the National Security Council that night at the Carthage Palace, and claimed that he had contacted the Speaker of Parliament Rached Ghannouchi (leader of the Ennahdha party) to consult with him in accordance with what is stipulated by the constitution, a claim which Ghannouchi denied since the call was general and did not include anything about exceptional measures or any consultation on the matter. The president suspended Parliament and later dissolved it in March 2022.

Not only did Saied seek to bypass his powers and the articles of the Constitution, which he swore to protect before the Assembly of the Representatives of the People, but he went on to dismiss and change the composition of the Supreme Judicial Council after redefining the judiciary it as a “function” rather than an independent authority. He further replaced members of the Supreme Electoral Commission in preparation for the referendum he held in order to vote on a constitution that he wrote himself after dismissing the proposals of the drafting committee he had himself appointed. Then legislative elections were held over two rounds, in which the participation rate did not exceed 8% of the total number of voters, with the Election Commission later announcing that it had reached 11%, which is the lowest participation rate in Tunisia and globally.

On February 11, President Saied’s regime launched a campaign of protests that has not stopped since, against political leaders, media figures, journalists, judges and senior officials and civil servants, for charges of “conspiring against the security of the state and committing an offensive act against the President of the Republic,” in addition to other charges that were referred to the military prosecution, leading one to wonder about the implication of the Tunisian army in the actions taken by Saied.

The arbitrary arrests were marred by several procedural violations amid criticism from prominent international organizations and observatories in the field of human rights. The standards of litigation and detention period and conditions were not respected. Prosecution and harassment sometimes extended to the detainees’ families, and no evidence, and in many cases, no charges against them were presented.

Moreover trade unions and political parties continue to be subjected to constant harassment and restrictions. Saied continues to target all “intermediary bodies” accusing them of “collaboration” or “treason”. Civil society associations have also been subjected to prosecution, arbitrary arrests and deprivation from representation, in a context of of increasing violence in society due to the authorities’ adoption of racist and discriminatory speeches and rhetoric inciting infighting and violating human dignity.

In light of the above, we, the undersigned, demand the following:

Call for the immediate release of all political detainees, immediately and unconditionally. We also urge the Tunisian authorities to recognize the national and the international human rights treaties they have ratified.
Call on the Tunisian authorities to stop dismantling the nascent democracy and put an end to unfair trials and prosecutions against political opponents of the regime and anyone who criticises it.
Call on all activists and observers to join the national movement for restoring democracy and ending authoritarian rule that has taken Tunisia back to despotism, injustice, and violations of rights and freedoms.